Oil mist lubricator for suction devices



e. A. MoRsAvl, JR

OIL MIST LUBRICATOR FOR SUCTION DEVICES Nov. 6, 1956 Filed Dec. 14, 1953F i .l 15 g 1 I 49 MMEMWLQ" IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent 01L MIST LUBRICATOR non SUCTION DEVICES Gaetano A.Morga'vi, In, New Orleans, La., assignor of one-half to Edward J.Hamback, New Orleans, La.

Application December 14, 1953, Serial No. 398,033

6 Claims. (Cl. 128278) This invention relates to lubricating apparatusand more specifically to lubricating devices operating in conjunctionwith suction devices, the invention being more particularly adapted forcooperation with a surgical, diagnostic and therapeutic evacuation unit,such as used for the removal of body fluids, mucous substances or thelike during surgical operations, during treatments, for diagnosticpurposes, or the like.

With surgical, diagnostic and similar apparatus removing body fluids orsemi-fluid matter by suction, the suction pressure is most frequentlyproduced by a compressor with metal plates rotating at high speed whichis driven by an electric motor, said compressor being connected with thesuction line containing a suction bottle or other suitable containerwhich receives the extracted fluid, mucus, etc. On account of the highspeed at which the compressor revolves it is necessary to lubricate itconstantly, but on account of the small space allowed and the simplicityof the design necessary to produce an unfailing apparatus manipulatedessentially by mechanically unskilled persons, the lubrication is alwaysperformed by hand by filling oilers provided near the rotating membersoftheunit. One filling of the oil vessels associated with the deviceusually supplies oil for an uninterrupted operation of several hours,usually three to five hours.

Quite a number of devices of this type, however, operate continuouslyfor more than three to five hours and as the-operation of refilling theoilers is an irregular one depending on the duration of the operationand on the load; it may be and it actually is sometimes overlooked,

especially as the interest of those operating the apparatus ispractically completely absorbed by the events connected with thetreatment or the surgery. The consequences of such an oversight mayhowever be very serious.

It is therefore an object ofthe invention to provide an automaticlubricating device for the compressor and other rotating units whichsupplies most effectively and eco nomically lubrication in the form of athin film which is deposited on the moving surfaces, said supply beingself regulating insofar as the supply of the lubricating materialincreases automatically with the increase of the load.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an oil mistlubrication system covering the parts to be lubricated with a continuousthin film of finely distributed lubricating particles,- said oil mistlubrication system being adapted for cooperation with the suction systemand utili z ing said suction system to such an extent that merely theaddition of a small vessel or container is necessary to produce acompletely automatic self regulating lubricating system.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an oil atomizinganddistributing unit which is equipped with means for a fine distributionof the oil, so that transporta-- tion of the lubricant may be efifectedby means of the air particles of smallest size carryingthe lubricantwhile moving under suction. I

Further objects of the invention are more specific and ice 2 will beexplained connection with the detailed specification. t I p Theinvention will beifi'ore specifically described with reference to theaccompanying drawingshowing one embodiment thereof. It nh wever to beunderstood that the embodiment which hasbeef illustrated in the drawingrelates to a specificieitaniple-selected in order to explain theprinciple of the ifiyfltion an the best mode of apply ing this principleThe illustration of a specific example is not to be interpreted as liniit a'tive and the invention therefore not necessarily tied l'toconstructional features shown in the embodiment which is illustrated.

In the drawing) a Figure l is an eleyationahpa ctio'ual diagrammaticview of the suction comp ssor, thesuct'ion sel and the suction linenecting'ihe same and showing the location of the lubricating deviceaccording to the invention. v V H v,

Figure 2 is a perspectiveyiew of the lubricating'device according to theinvention illustrating its connection with the suction lin.

p r h p L Figure 3 is an elev onal "sectional view through the device,the section being' a as through the median p ane of symmetry and BeingQ' at line 3'3 in Figure l Figure ris a sectional plan view for thedevice illustrated in Figure 3 the seiliion belilgtaken along line 4 4of Figure 3. V x v V p The invnt' will be h t understood by brieflyreferring to the general 60 striictionof'the apparatus tobe lubricated.Iiiali 5155a; s as used in connection with surgical tip'eratioiis orsurgal treatments etc body fluids and other'vis'cou's" and i-fluid matterhas to be removed 'u'suallyhy suction and diagnostic apparatuso i'apparatus for combined treatment-there is usually asuc'; tidn and apressure side; the invention being p ned er; The suction apparatus al';

however only to ihe -i'o Ways essentially com rises a rotary pump orcompr sor 10; a suction line 11, a vacuum bottle 129ml a suction cup(not illustrated) tob applied to the field of opera tion (for'instanceto* the throat during tonsillectomyj and which is mounted on orconnected with the end of th'sirction tube or hose 15. p I p 7 I Thepump or compressor 10 is usually not of the rqa nary ty e butcompris'esasteerchamber 16 cooperating With' bronze Slids'17'Which' reciprocatewithin Slots 18 of a rotating drum '14, the-slides being kept pressedagainst the wall of the chamber bysuitable means. Such a pump, producessufiici'ent vacuum for evacuating even relatively large quantities ofbody fluids and of other matter on its vacuum side; However, it will beclear that such a. pum constructedwith'slides sfiiraping the interior ofa drum shaped casing needs excellentlubrication and'this' need isintensified b'y. the t'act; explained below, that particles may come'inwhich m'ay cause severe disturbances" if lubricatiorffailsor is poor:I

The vacuum produced-by. the pump 10 is transmitted tit the suction lineHand to the'vacir'um bottle 12 which in its turn transmits s'uction to'the'cu'p or cup's'. Any flu'id or other viscous or semi-fluid matterevacuated through the suction tube 15 connectedrwith the suction cup isof course retained=in= the vacu'um bottle 12 which be inspected fromtime to time to avoid accumulationl of matter within said bottletosuch-an extent that it exceeds certain heights orlevels:

Filters and other protective appliances are arranged betweenthebottleandethe pump; but, as abovestated, it is practically inevitable thatparticles are carried by the air stream into thepump casing where theymay 2gglornerate. This accentuates the need for ample and constantlubn'cation-f tocounteract any detrimental in fluence' of such smallagglomera'tions which may adhere" to the walls of the pump casing;

According to the invention, therefore, an automatic ated matteraccumulates to' 'the compressor or pump .10,

said connection being made by means of a T-junction piece 21 .thestraight or through connection 22 of which is inserted into the suctionline 11 while the transverse or branch piew 23 is connected with thelubricating device 25 according to the invention. It is thus seen thatthe lubricating device 25 is connected in parellel to the vacuum bottle12. The lubricating device 25 consists essentially of a glassortransparent plastic container 24 provided with screw threads on thetop, which screw threads serve to'retain a cap member 26. ,The capmember 26 is provided with a sleeve 27 having internal threads engagingthose at the top of the container so that it may be tightly screwed ontop of the'container sealing the 'same by means of the sealing ring 42.The cap 'is proconnection with the branch tube 23 of the T-junctionpiece 21, the latter connection being made by means of a Farrellnut 34.-This chamber 29 is moreover in commeans of an opening 35 in the cap. 7

. The second chamber 30, at the end of which internal threads. 36 areprovided, is closed by a threaded stopper 38 engaging the internalthreads, which stopper is provided with a central bore 39 and a furtherside bore 37 atright angles thereto and leading to the outside. Thecentral bore 39 is threaded at its end which threads engage those of aneedle valve 40 'adaptedto project into the bore 39 and adapted to closeto a varying extent the sidebore 37 and the communication of the chamber30 with. the outer air through the said bores .39 and 37. The needlevalve maybe provided with a suitable head 41 .which is slotted so as topermit adjustment'of the needle valve 40 by advancing it or withdrawing'it to a varying extent. 7 V

The chamber 30 communicates with the interior of the container 34 bymeans of a tube 44 of relatively small munication with the interior ofthe container 24 by.

diameter which tube is carried by a stopper 45 havinga threaded portion47 which is screwed into a threaded opening46 at the bottom ofthe'chamber 30 which connects the latter with the container, thecommunication being however restricted to the tube 44 by'the abovedescribed arrangement. r

The tube 44 reaches down into the container towards the bottom of thesame and its orifice 43 is therefore located only a short distance fromthe bottom of the container 24. The tube is partly surrounded by acylindrical screen 50 consisting of wire mesh with very fine mesh size,topped by a brass disk 48'which fills a substantial part of the crosssection of thecontainer and leaves only a comparatively small annularspace through which the air may freely circulate. The brass disk 48 maybe seated directly on a ring support 51 by means of which the top of thewire mesh screen is reinforced.

.A similar reinforcing ring 49 may be arranged at the bottomof thescreen 50. 1

The device, before being connected with the suction 4 air bubblesthrough the oil and these air bubbles entrain some oil and become coatedwith Hand therefore above the oil level an oil mist is formed which issucked into the suction line throughopening 35, enters the comaadjustment to the average load the quantity of air coma ing in undersuction into the container 24 filled with oil may be regulated by theneedle valve 40. However, when the pump is under a varying and heavyload and temporarily works at full capacity there is some danger thatthe air bubbles which are formed will be too large and that the quantityof oil which is contained in the mist above the oil level becomes toosmall. For this purpose the wire mesh screen 50 and the brass disk 48are arranged which serve, in the first place, to break up air bubbleswhich are too large. This is partly done by the wire mesh which issutficiently fine to permit solely the passage of very small air bubblesand this is further, also, produced by the disk 48 against which largerair bubbles will be thrown and break up into small bubbles so that onlythe latter will pass above the annular space left between the container24 and the brass disk 48 and reach the space above said disk 48, forminga fine oil mist carried by very small air bubbles. V It will thus beseen that the arrangement always produces an ample quantity of oil mistsuitable for lubrica tion regardless of the load on the pump and thatlubrica tion moreover increases with the increase of the load. 7 I

which apparatus is operable by the suction thus pro-v duced and which isself regulating and automatic and provides an oil mist lubricationconstantly and uninter- V ruptedly in conformity with the requirementsof the apparatus served, said oil mist lubrication depositing on thoseparts of the apparatus which are subjected to friction an extremely thinfilm of oil which is constantly re- 7 newed as it is intimatelyassociated with the air or gas drawn into the apparatus. V 7

It will also be seen that the above described system has many advantagesconnected with its self regulation, its automaticity which eliminatesthe constant attendance and, its self contained arrangement but it alsohas further advantages connected with the fine oil distribution, themanual regulability of the average air supply for an individualapparatus and the possibility to work the apparatus either at small orat full capacity without in any way impairing the oil'film formation;

It will be clear that changes in the constructive fea-- tures andespecially in the unessential features of the invention'may be madewithout in any way departing from the essence of the invention asdefined in the annexed claims. 7

What is claimed as new is as follows: i I 1. An automatic lubricationsystem comprising a suction line, a compressor connected with itssuction side to' the said suction line, a surgical apparatus forevacuating .65 substances from the human body connected with the saidsuction line; a lubricant container filled with a lubricant, having atop portion'divided into twoseparate compartments, one of saidcompartments being connected with the atmosphere by means of arestricted connection and being further connected with the bottom of thecontaine'r, the other compartment being connected with the top of thecontainer, on one side andrwith-the suction line on the other side, airbeing sucked into the suction'line to the last named compartmentconnected withthetopof the container and through the firstnamed'compa'rtment having a restricted connection With the atmospherethrough its connection with the bottom of the container, the airentering through the lubricant filling the container containingparticles of the lubricant and forming a mist while drawn into thesuction line.

2. An automatic lubrication system comprising a suction line, acompressor, the suction side of which is connected with said suctionline, a surgical apparatus for evacuating substances from the humanbody, connected with the said suction line, a lubricant container partlyfilled with a liquid lubricant having a top portion, a cap seated onsaid top portion provided with two separate chambers, one of saidchambers communicating with said top portion of the container on oneside, and with the suction line on the other side and the other chambercommunicating with the bottom portion of said container and with theatmosphere, means for providing a restricted connection between saidlast named chamber and the atmosphere including an adjustable needlevalve, regulating said restricted connection, the air entering throughthe restricted connection regulated by the needle valve being drawnthrough the liquid lubricant into the space in the top portion or" thecontainer and entraining during its passage particles of the lubricantforming a mist above the level of the liquid lubricant which is drawninto the suction line.

3. An automatic lubrication system comprising a suction line, acompressor, the suction side of which is connected with the said suctionline, a surgical apparatus for evacuating substances from the human bodyconnected with the said suction line, a suction bottle for depositingthe substances removed from the surgical apparatus inserted into thesuction line between the said surgical apparatus and the compressor, acontainer filled with a lubricant, communicating with two separatechambers, one of said chambers being connected with the suction line onone side and with the top portion of the container on the other side,and the other chamber communicating with the open air on one side andthe bottom of the lubricant container on the other side, the connectionbetween the bottom of the container and the last named chamber beingformed by a tube reaching from said chamber to a point near the bottomof the container the connection of the lubricant container with thesuction line being made between the compressor to be lubricated and thesuction bottle, the suction effect exercised by the suction line drawingair bubbles through the lubricant entering near the bottom of thecontainer and carrying with them small particles of the lubricant Whilerising which form a mist suspended in air, which mist enters the suctionline and provides the lubricating film for the rotating parts.

4. An automatic lubricator as claimed in claim 3, wherein the lubricantcontainer is provided on its top portion with a cap, having two separatetubular cavities each forming one of the chambers communicating with thelubricant container, the aforesaid chamber communicating with the bottomportion of the container, by means of a tube reaching from said chamberto the bottom of the container being provided with a bore forming partof a communication with the open air, and a needle valve within saidbore for regulating the volume of the air entering into said bore.

5. An automatic lubricator as claimed in claim 4, wherein the tubeleading to the bottom portion of the container is surrounded with a finewire mesh screen, through which the air escaping from the tube must passon its way to the top portion of the container.

6. An automatic lubricator as claimed in claim 4, wherein the containeris provided with a circular disk filling a major portion of the crosssection of the container and leaving a restricted annular space for thepassage of air from the bottom portion to the top portion, said diskbreaking up the oversized air bubbles entering through the tube into thebottom of the container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS656,409 Laraway et al. Aug. 21, 1900 1,889,137 White Nov. 29, 19321,896,421 Quivey Feb. 7, 1933 1,983,066 Black Dec. 4, 1934 2,272,926Squiller Feb. 10, 1942 2,280,992 Wright et al. Apr. 28, 1942 2,367,721Gothberg et al. Jan. 23, 1945 2,459,398 Walters Jan. 18, 1949

